There was no prior deal with Ralph (Brennan) and Terry (White)' -- Bridget Brennan Tyrell

The kitchen in Brennan’s restaurant at 417 Royal St. is quiet these days, but the relatives of founder Owen Brennan are staying busy – in court.

Pip Brennan, the son of the founder and most recent managing partner of the landmark restaurant that closed June 27, has filed a motion with U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to dismiss the motion to dismiss filed by his cousin and fellow renowned restaurateur Ralph Brennan on Aug. 8.

To understand any of this requires some background. Back on June 10, a company called LEGGO/ 4 bought the financially floundering restaurant when Pip failed to pay debts, and a court foreclosed on the Royal Street building. The sheriff’s auction price was $6.85 million.

In a last-ditch effort, Pip took steps to stop the sale, but he wasn’t able to put up the necessary $150,000 in bond money. So the iconic pink townhouse that has been the home of Brennan’s restaurant for 60 years changed hands.

A shock wave rippled across the Crescent City when it was revealed that cousin Ralph was a heretofore invisible partner in LEGGO / 4. It wasn’t long before Ralph evicted his kin and hinted at plans for a new dining establishment to come. The doors to the restaurant, which admitted guests continuously for decades, have stood closed for weeks.

Yet the seemingly endless legal ping-pong match rages on.

In June, Pip asked the court to nullify the foreclosure because of lingering legal “defect” that tied his hands as he tried to keep hold of the property.

Last week, Ralph and partners asked the court to dismiss Pip’s request to nullify the sale, arguing that legally speaking, what was done is done.

In the Wednesday (Aug. 14) motion, Pip argues that in the legal machinations surrounding the closure and sale of the iconic property, he hasn’t had a chance to fully present his case. If he gets his chance, Pip says, he’ll prove that his brother, Theodore “Ted” Brennan, his rival for control of the family business, and Ted’s daughter Bridget Brennan Tyrell had joined forces with Ralph and partners in LEGGO / 4 to assure that the restaurant fell into Ralph’s hands.

As stated in the memorandum compiled by Pip’s attorney, Vic Welsh: “Pip Brennan has alleged, among other things, that the LEGGO defendants were cooperating with and/or working with the assistance of Ted Brennan and Bridget Brennan (Tyrell) to assure the foreclosure would take place.”

Ted may have been kicked out of the driver's seat, but he remained a partner with his brother in the Brennan’s restaurant company. Pip argues that if Ted and Bridget had not been in Ralph’s corner, they might have helped dodge the takeover.

Blood runs cold between the Ted and Bridget side of the family and the Pip side. It was only June 10 that Pip wrestled control of the debt-ridden restaurant from Ted and Bridget in a bitter overthrow. At one juncture in the dispute, the police were called to a stockholders meeting at the restaurant to keep the peace.

In Wednesday’s (Aug. 14) motion, Pip claims that the reason Ted and Bridget threw in with Ralph to seize the restaurant from Pip was more than mere Machiavellian revenge. In Pip’s telling, Ted’s personal debts are tied to the restaurant.

“Ted Brennan would reap an enormous personal benefit from the uncontested foreclosure,” the motion states.

Likewise, the LEGGO / 4 faction would come out with the prize they sought.

“By convincing Ted Brennan and Bridget Brennan to ‘lay down’ on the foreclosure, the LEGGO defendants would get what they wanted, i.e., the 417 Royal St. building and Brennan’s restaurant.”

According to the memorandum, Pip claims to have emails, phone records and witness testimony to support his claims.

But in a telephone conversation Aug. 14, Bridget declared that she and her father had no agreement to throw the restaurant to Ralph.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “There was no prior deal with Ralph and Terry.”

The Terry she referred to is Harold “Terry” White III, a partner in LEGGO / 4.